“In fact, privacy is nothing less than a prerequisite for freedom: the freedom to live and develop independently as a person, away from the watchful eye of a surveillance state or commercial enterprises, while still participating voluntarily and actively in the regular, day-to-day activities of a modern society.”
Daniel Therrien, Privacy Commissioner of Canada; Freedom and democracy cannot exist without privacy.
Table of contents
Introduction
At the core of any democratic government lies the principle of respecting citizens’ rights, including their right to privacy. Privacy serves as a crucial foundation for several fundamental democratic values, such as freedom of speech, freedom of association, and protection from unwarranted government intrusion.
In the modern digital landscape, the protection of our personal information and privacy has taken center stage in the global conversation, and this notion of privacy extends to the online realm. As we delve deeper into the crucial role digital privacy plays in democratic societies, it becomes increasingly clear that the preservation of privacy is not only essential for individual autonomy but also serves as a cornerstone for democracy and freedom.
As people increasingly communicate, share information, and engage in personal, social and political activities through digital platforms, online privacy becomes indispensable to preserving democracy’s core principles.
Empowering Individuals and Fostering Freedom
One of the cornerstones of democracy lies in the power and autonomy of the individual, a principle that digital privacy can significantly uphold. By offering control over personal information, privacy empowers individuals to decide when, how, and to whom their data is disclosed. This safeguard allows citizens to express themselves freely, make informed choices, and interact without the fear of being unduly influenced or coerced. By setting boundaries that respect individual autonomy, digital privacy enhances personal freedom, which is the bedrock of democratic society.
Moreover, in an age characterized by innovation and rapid technological progress, digital privacy can stimulate creativity and catalyze change. When individuals feel secure that they can achieve adequate privacy, and that their ideas and data are protected, they are more likely to share, collaborate, and innovate. This climate of trust fuels a cycle of innovation, fostering environments where new concepts can emerge, be tested, and refined. Consequently, the assurance of privacy in digital interactions contributes significantly to a thriving culture of innovation, underpinning societal advancement and growth.
Promoting Free and Open Discourse
When citizens fear that their online activities are being monitored by the government, they may self-censor their opinions, avoid engaging in political discussions, or refrain from joining organizations that advocate for controversial causes. This can lead to a stifling of public discourse and a homogenization of political opinions, ultimately undermining the foundation of a democratic society. As a result, it is crucial for governments to strike a balance between protecting national security and preserving citizens’ digital privacy rights.
A free and open discourse is essential for a functioning democracy. Privacy allows individuals to explore and express ideas, beliefs, and opinions without fear of surveillance, retaliation, or social ostracism. By providing a safe space for people to communicate and associate with others, privacy promotes a rich and diverse marketplace of ideas. This freedom of expression is crucial for maintaining a healthy democratic society where citizens can challenge prevailing norms and contribute to the collective decision-making process.
Safeguarding Against Abuses of Power
In recent years, numerous revelations about government surveillance programs have raised concerns about the erosion of digital privacy. These programs, often conducted in the name of national security or law enforcement, involve the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data about citizens’ online activities. While governments may have legitimate reasons for implementing such measures, excessive surveillance can have chilling effects on democratic processes and individual freedoms.
Privacy serves as a check on potential abuses of power by governments, corporations, and other institutions. By limiting the ability of these entities to monitor and control individuals’ lives, privacy helps preserve the balance of power between citizens and their governing institutions. This balance is essential for maintaining democratic accountability, as it ensures that those in power are subject to the rule of law and cannot use their authority to suppress dissent, manipulate public opinion, or consolidate control.
“Privacy is a requirement to live freely, so just to protect yourself against prejudice and judgement by other people, the legal system, society around you.”
Eric Sirion, Interview on The Opt Out Podcast (10 July 2022)
The Role of Private Companies in Digital Privacy
In addition to government surveillance, private companies also play a significant role in shaping the digital privacy landscape. Tech giants, such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon, collect vast amounts of user data for advertising and other commercial purposes. While these companies often provide valuable (and often 21st century “necessary”) services, their data collection practices can raise concerns about the erosion of digital/online privacy.
Your data is frequently sold to third parties either directly or indirectly through advertising profiling.
To maintain a healthy democratic society, it is essential for individuals to have control over their personal information and the ability to make informed choices about how it is used. This requires transparency from private companies about their data collection practices, as well as robust legal frameworks that protect users’ privacy rights. By promoting digital privacy with both government regulation and technical privacy by design, we can create an environment where citizens are empowered to participate in the democratic process without fear of subconscious exploitation or subversion via their personal information being misused by private corporations.
Additionally, there are a multitude of private companies working on a diverse set of digital privacy solutions; and they should be encouraged to provide an array of choices for consumers to select the option(s) that best serve their privacy and security needs. Some of these include Apple, VPN service providers, private email providers like protonmail, password managers etc.
*Private companies, refers to non-government agencies, these can be private or publicly traded on stock exchanges, but they are simply not run by governments and are for profit businesses.*
Protecting Vulnerable Populations
Digital privacy is also vital for protecting vulnerable populations such as political dissidents, investigative journalists, whistleblowers, and members of marginalized groups. These individuals often rely on privacy to protect themselves from persecution, harassment, or discrimination. By ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs, has the opportunity to participate in public life without fear of reprisal, privacy helps to create a more inclusive and equitable society.
Some other simple examples of vulnerable populations include those belonging to or affiliated with a political minority, in particular in autocratic/dictator societies (which over half the world populations live under); those on either side of the abortion debate depending which laws are in favor; LGBT+ populations; visible minorities; religious minorities; journalists exposing corrupt practices of corrupt nations and organizations, etc.
Supporting Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalism, a pillar of democracy, also relies on digital privacy. Journalists uncover hidden truths, hold powerful entities accountable, and inform the public about matters of significant concern. The ability to criticize a government, or any institution or group of people, openly and discuss government policies, actions, enforcement and government transparency are essential in a society to defend and maintain a democratic society (of course this must be done with nuance, education and long form discourse, not 140 character tweets or headlines).
Digital privacy enables journalists to communicate securely with their sources, safeguard their research, and bypass censorship and surveillance by publishing their work in a private or pseudonymous manner. By protecting the rights of journalists to conduct their work independently and without interference, digital privacy helps to uphold the essential principles of a free and independent press.
Strategies for Enhancing Digital Privacy
To make digital privacy the default (privacy by design) and minimize reliance on trust, several methods, strategies, and tools can be employed. Incorporating Privacy by Design, using end-to-end encryption, robust authentication processes, adopting decentralized and peer-to-peer systems, employing anonymization and data minimization techniques, and choosing Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) can significantly enhance privacy protection. Additionally, using privacy-enhancing technologies like virtual private networks (VPNs), anonymous browsing tools, and encrypted email services can further empower individuals to protect their privacy online.
Conclusion
In conclusion, digital privacy is more than just a personal right; it is a prerequisite and cornerstone for a democratic government and a free society. By empowering individuals, fostering diverse discourse, protecting against abuses of power, safeguarding vulnerable populations, and encouraging civic participation, digital privacy helps ensure that democratic values remain strong and resilient in the face of evolving technological challenges.
To protect and promote digital privacy, we must continue to advocate for strong legal frameworks, push for privacy by design, transparency from both governments and private companies, and educate citizens about the importance of privacy in the digital age. Ultimately, it is only through vigilance and proactive efforts that we can safeguard the essential values of democracy and freedom in an increasingly interconnected world.